From the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
Issue: Summer 2025
| |
☀️ Welcome Summer — and Everything That Comes with It
| | As temperatures rise, so do the challenges veterinarians face across Indiana. From managing vector-borne threats to preparing for fair season biosecurity challenges, the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) is here to support your practice with timely diagnostics, expert insights, and educational tools. This issue highlights seasonal trends, test updates, and case-based learning to help you anticipate, diagnose, and respond effectively. | |
📚 A Note from the Associate Director – Dr. Craig Bowen
| | |
The Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories at Reed (West Lafayette) and Heeke (Dubois) are in full swing this summer. Summer heat will hopefully bring us a reprieve in testing for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), but it also brings its own challenges with vector-borne diseases. Since January, the ADDL has completed more than 25,000 PCR reactions for Avian Influenza (AI); in comparison to the last five years where the twelve-month total of AI testing averaged 5,000 tests. With the summer heat, we are already detecting cases of two emerging vector-borne diseases: Theileria orientalis Ikeda and Cytauxzoon felis. Check below for more information and testing options.
Summer also brings a new fiscal year with an updated Fee Schedule. Please be aware of the fee changes that were implemented on July 1, 2025. Laboratory submission forms are also being reviewed and updated. Be sure to check the ADDL website periodically to ensure you are using the most up-to-date submission form. Lastly, you may notice a new section name appearing on submission forms and other communications. The Virology and Serology sections have merged. The combined unit is called Immunodiagnostics.
| | 👩🔬 Welcome Dr. Rachel Soltys | | |
The Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory is pleased to welcome Rachel C. Soltys, DVM, PhD, DACVM, as our new Clinical Assistant Professor and Bacteriology Section Head. Dr. Soltys brings a strong background in antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial stewardship, and the surveillance of foodborne and zoonotic diseases. Her expertise will enhance our diagnostic capabilities and support our mission to advance animal and public health across Indiana and beyond.
Learn more about Dr. Soltys here.
| | | 🦟 Summer Spotlight: Vector-Borne Disease Trends in Indiana | | |
What We Are Seeing:
Early submissions suggest a spike in tick-borne pathogens in Indiana, including Cytauxzoon felis (Bobcat Fever), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Anaplasmosis), and Theileria orientalis Ikeda (Theileriosis). It remains to be seen whether West Nile Virus (WNV), Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEE), or Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (EHD) will demonstrate increased prevalence this season.
| | | | | |
Client Tip:
Remember to check the sample type requirement for each test. Many tests require the submission of whole blood samples in EDTA tubes for PCR diagnostics to determine current infection.
| | 🐄 Fair Season Prep: Livestock Diagnostics for Exhibition Animals
| | Are your clients preparing for open shows or fairs? Help them ensure healthy show animals and fulfill movement/certification requirements. | |
Exhibition Testing Reminders
Be sure to consult with show organizers and obtain show testing requirements. If the livestock will be traveling to another state, you will need to contact the state of destination to determine what requirements exist for interstate movement. Lastly, TIME - work with the clients to schedule as much time as possible for testing to occur. Most required tests are regulatory and require confirmation at NVSL if initial results are suspect or positive.
| | |
Sample Shipping:
Summer Sample Stability Tips
Hot trucks, delayed shipping, and poor packaging can compromise diagnostics.
Top Lab Tips:
- Use ice packs and insulated containers
- Avoid shipping on Fridays
- For serum samples: use serum separator tubes or poor off the serum into a new tube
- Fecal samples should be refrigerated, not frozen
For a refresher on other shipping tips, check out or guide: Shipping Diagnostic Specimens in Hot Weather.
| |  | |
Tritrichomonas foetus PCR - InPouch TF® Update
Last year, the ADDL completed validation of Trich PCR performed directly on samples. This eliminates the need for samples to be inoculated into a Trich pouch prior to submission. With this streamlined process, ADDL will discontinue providing InPouch TF® culture systems once current supplies are exhausted.
| | | |
🧬Targeted Next Generation Sequencing (tNGS)
Do you have a case that requires broader diagnostics than the usual syndromic pathogens? Consider ordering one of the Targeted Next Generation Sequencing (tNGS) panels. In some cases, these panels are testing for dozens of pathogens, virulence factors, and/or subtypes resulting in more comprehensive and in-depth diagnostics.
The technology used for tNGS combines PCR amplification with sequencing to deliver extremely sensitive detection of the targeted pathogens. While this process is not as fast as same-day PCR results, the turnaround time is usually about one week. Visit the ADDL website to learn more about each panel and the targeted pathogens.
The following are tNGS panels currently available:
| |
The ADDL now offers a PCR panel for diagnosing infectious causes of pink eye in cattle and small ruminant species. The Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis PCR Panel, or IBK Pink Eye PCR Panel, tests for the following pathogens:
- Moraxella bovoculi
- Moraxella bovis
- Moraxella oculi
- Moraxella ovis
- Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1/IBR)
-
Mycoplasma spp.
Preferred sample: conjunctival swab in a viral transport system or synthetic swab in 0.5 mL sterile saline. As with all PCR tests, the swab must be made of synthetic material, not cotton, to avoid test inhibition.
| |
🧪Toxicology Best Practices for Sample Submission
The Toxicology Section offers trace mineral and toxic metal panels to diagnose trace nutrient deficiencies or heavy metal toxicoses in animals. These screens cover a variety of analytes in biological samples from animals (postmortem and antemortem), and environmental samples. The results of these screens may be influenced by the quality, quantity, or integrity of the sample. The toxicology section has created a sample submission guide describing best practices to optimize trace mineral and toxic metal screen results and diagnostic interpretation. Pertinent information regarding preferred specimens to submit for each test, including sample storage and shipping, is provided.
| |
Case Review: Fatal Tick Infestation in a Beef Heifer
Species: Bovine
Presentation: 10-month-old crossbred beef heifer found dead in pasture
Necropsy Findings:
- Pale pink to white mucous membranes, conjunctiva and subcutaneous tissues
- Subcutaneous tissues moderately expanded by edema
- External parasitism - 2-3mm reddish-brown ticks covering the inguinal folds, axillary folds and the ears
| | |
Diagnostics:
-
Parasite identification - Haemaphysalis longicornis
-
PCR for Theileria orientalis and Anaplasma marginale were both negative
Diagnosis:
-
The ticks leading to severe anemia and death in this case were confirmed as the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis).
- The Asian longhorned tick is an invasive tick species originally from East Asia. It has only been reported in a few Indiana counties but can spread rapidly due to its ability to reproduce asexually through a process called parthenogenesis.
Key Takeaways:
-
While it is known that this invasive tick species is a vector for the pathogenic Theileria orientalis Ikeda, we must also remember that the tick itself can cause harm when present in substantial numbers as seen in this case.
- Monitoring and managing Indiana cattle for ticks is an important topic to discuss with producers.
-
The Indiana Board of Animal Health (BOAH) and Indiana Department of Health have published an online seminar about the Asian longhorned tick.
-
For suspect cases of Asian longhorned tick, please contact BOAH. Additionally, ticks may be collected, placed into specimen jars with 70% ethanol, and submitted to the ADDL for identification.
Case Work Up:
| | |
✅ Upcoming Events
- September 1, 2025 – Holiday Closure
-
September 16-20, 2025 – PVM Conference (Register)
- Diagnostic Medicine Track – Thursday, September 18
| | | | |
